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It`s `do-or-die` for Wales

Tom Shanklin: 'It's do-or-die for us'

Tom Shanklin believes Wales' greater experience of "do-or-die" rugby will be a major advantage heading into Saturday's World Cup eliminator against Fiji.

Wales must win in Nantes to secure second place in Pool B and a quarter-final clash against South Africa. Defeat will, unthinkably, send them crashing out of the tournament before the knock-out stages.

But the Wales squad is one of the most experienced in the tournament, with seven of Saturday's likely starting line-up boasting more than 50 caps.

And they all have experience of high-pressure situations.

In 2005 Wales clinched the Grand Slam on home soil with a victory over Ireland while, on the other side of the coin, they pulled out a win against England earlier this year to avoid the ignominy of the wooden spoon and a Six Nations whitewash.

On both occasions the pressure to deliver was huge and Shanklin is confident that experience will stand the squad in good stead as they enter Saturday's clash with their World Cup futures on the line.

"This is a huge game. It's do-or-die for us - if we lose we're going home. It's hit home that we can't lose any more games, that this is it,'' said Shanklin.

"The pressure's on and we want to perform. We don't want to go home now.

"We want to go through to the next round so we've got to make sure we perform. This is where the Six Nations should stand us in good stead.

"We've got good experience throughout the side, mixed with youth, and these guys have been in situations before like the England game in the Six Nations as well as the big games in the Grand Slam.''

Fiji will offer a unique threat on Saturday and the conundrum Wales face is how to strike the balance between playing their own attacking game and not leaving themselves too open on the break.

As a direct result of Fiji's potent back division and the dangers they pose in a broken-field situation, Wales are likely to employ a different approach to tactical kicking.

Wales have already had a taste of what to expect in last Thursday's win over Japan, when they were stung for two tries from a turnover and an interception.

"I think they'll be pretty good at counter-attacking and turnovers. Japan scored a brilliant try and I think the Fijians will be better than that,'' said Shanklin.

"They're all athletes. Sometimes you talk about the back three but they've got a back four or back five - they're all really quick and skilful, so they're going to be hard work for us.

"I think they'll definitely look to have a crack at us from the off. Where we've got to be careful is turnover ball and kicking to them.

"When we kick now we're going to have to look to kick out unless they're really attacking kicks where we can challenge because these guys can run.''

Both sides relish open-field attacking rugby but that is not often reflected in the scorelines in clashes between the two. In 2005 Wales edged a dour game 11-10 and back in 1995 they won 19-15.

Wales have made slow starts in their opening three games and Shanklin called for patience from both players and fans.

He warned Saturday may be another occasion where Fiji need to be ground down before the Welsh can cut loose.

"What we're going to have to do - especially at the start of the game - is send one or two more to the ruck to make sure we secure the ball,'' said Shanklin.

"We expect the Fijians to make a strong start and if we have to grind it out for 50 or 60 minutes then fine. In the latter stage of the game I expect it to open up more for us.

"We have learned not to panic and to keep composure. We might not beat a side from the off but we will in the second half.

"Our momentum seems to be coming in the second half, and we need to extend that. If we do want to progress to the real high stages we need to play 80 minutes of good rugby.

"But we're playing better rugby than we did in the Six Nations last year, more attacking and scoring tries and just need to keep on improving.''

Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins will confirm his side on Wednesday and it is set to include captain Gareth Thomas, who is recovering from rib cartilage damage, and Dwayne Peel at scrum-half ahead of Mike Phillips.

The notion that winger Shane Williams should be dropped because he concedes too many turnovers, proposed by Barry John at the weekend, is also set to be rejected.